LONDON`S GREEN SPACES

 I grew up in the Hawley area & am still incredibly enamoured by Hawley field & its surrounding beauty. Regularly I travel in from Putney to stay with my Mother in Hawley & always visit the area. Places such as Fernhill Lane, its churches & hallow dirt & endearing, winding lanes are all part of the local heritage. A local heritage that I am proud to be a part of. But, sadly, it is also a heritage that is finding itself being quietly eroded away by a cheap disfigurement of its high streets & local ways. There is a need for this fast-paced structural madness to be halted & diverted away from Hawley`s disappearing skyline. We have suffered so much, been nearly broken by it, & now it must stop.

When my Mother first broke the news that 150 houses were being proposed for Hawley field I felt consumed by rage, then a deep & abject sadness fell upon me. I thought of my childhood, friends that live there, good people that care for the area, like Joanne & her children & the rich wildlife. It enrages me, makes me angry, that a place as dignified & beautiful as Hawley field should be singled out & attacked in this way. In this `stack `em high & run` culture, hallowed ground should not be interfered with like this. To allow it is little better than committing rape upon a defenceless person.

 Building in such an area could only be considered by those that have no knowledge, depth or understanding of our area. The ignorant. For if they had local knowledge then they would be aware of the generations of Hawley`s children that have benefited from the area`s nature, history & beauty. Ancient woods that have helped connect children & adults with wildlife like nowhere else, or animals, insects & elements that are unique & horses that are allowed to roam freely, a rarity in these troubling times, are all things that need to be preserved. To stop all this would be denying future, younger generations the same rich & illustrious lessons that have been afforded us. Us that are of its kin. How dare another deny youth the ability to advance in natural ways. How dare they.

 Obstructing our children in this way would indeed fall nicely into the same pattern that up & down the country local government seems happy to replay over & over. But why not, just this once, use this fantastic opportunity to make a difference & show everyone involved, now & for the future, how not to attack local communities in such revolting ways ? Yes, land is needed, but not land that is hallow & which has benefited generations of local people.

 Today I am grateful of the lessons Hawley field has taught me. As I look back upon them I am humbled by what I have learnt from my time there. The powerful spirit she, the field, has instilled inside of me, & had upon my life, is insurmountable. Nothing could take that away from me. But, today I can see that  what she has taught me is how to utilize my own power in whatever form I need to fight to keep her alive. I choose to do this in her hour of need, as does everyone of you, & the others that will soon join our ranks. We all have a duty to do this & we will.

 My friends, her siren call is loud, & now it is our turn to repay her for all she has given to us, since ancient times. Now is the time to hear that call & act upon it with swiftness.

 She needs us now & her earth is hallow.  Let us walk together in her honour.

 ~"Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.” ~
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War ~